Kwara's AbdulRazaq Implements Major Education Reforms

Since taking office in 2019, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has focused on reforming the basic education sector in Kwara State, which faced systemic challenges, including outstanding counterpart funding obligations affecting access to Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) grants. His administration cleared these obligations, unlocking federal intervention funds for public school rehabilitation.

Key reforms included merit-based Computer-Based Testing recruitment for thousands of qualified teachers and the introduction of a new national minimum wage. To alleviate economic burdens on families, AbdulRazaq eliminated unofficial school levies and introduced direct running grants for schools.

The flagship initiative, KwaraLEARN, aims to improve foundational literacy and numeracy through structured lesson plans, teacher training, and data-driven assessments. By 2023, over 6,000 teachers were trained, and significant resources, including digital tablets and textbooks, were distributed across 1,578 primary schools.

Infrastructure upgrades are also planned, with a ₦20 billion commitment for school remodelling by 2025. The administration's efforts have garnered recognition, including the Leadership Newspaper Governor of the Year Award.